Bruno and her team of reviewers travel to four cities around the world each year, sampling dozens of four-course tasting menus along the way. The website then picks
six rising star chefs in each city, along with winners in several other categories, including pastry chef, hotel chef, mixologist, best concept,
sommelier, beer sommelier and restaurateur.

This is the first time the awards, which began in 2003, have landed in Portland.

"A lot of it, I hate to say, is sponsor related," Bruno said. "At the end of the day
if the sponsors don't want to support the city you want to do, it's really hard
to do the city. The event costs a lot of money."

So far, Bruno has been wowed by Southeast Portland's Castagna and Southwest
Portland's Aquariva, she said over coffee and a danish as high school marching
band horns blared during the Rose Festival parade Saturday.

"Beyond Castagna, I think the most interesting thing about the restaurant culture here is that chefs are willing to take risks. It's great. I'm in love with Portland. I think the food here is more interesting that the food in San Francisco."